Wire stretcher



'Mmh 2,1 926.

C. W. COSSMAN WIRE STRETCHER Filed May 13, 1925 x INVENTOR. CHA RL E5 C'OJJ/VAM M x W ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES w. COSSMAN, ornEwAnK, NEW JERSEY.

WIRE STRETCHER.

Application filed May 13, 1925. Serial No. 30,130.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that CHARLES W. CossMAN, a citizen of the United'St-ates, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex andState of New Jersey, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatestowire stretching tools and more particularly to a novel and improved implement for facilitating the positioning or attachment of barbed wire, for instance, when utilizing staples.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tool or implement particularly adapted for use in connection with staples wherein the wire may be stretched and twisted about the staple, preliminary to driving the staple so that the wire is held taut and secure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wire stretching tool as above set forth which will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient in operation. and use, practicable and inexpensive to manufacture whereby its commercial possibilities are greatly enhanced.

In order to more fully understand and appreciate my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the use and application of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan.

Fig. 3 is an end View showing the implement in its relation to the staple and wire.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates what I term a stabilizing plate in the form of a substantially annular ring, the ends of said ring being rolled inwardly pro 'ducing the spacing ribs 6. A third spacing rib 7 is formed with the ring at a point rearwardly of and between the spacing ribs 6 so that a three point support is had for the stabilizing plate to operate over a flat surface to which abarbed wire is to be attached, as for instance on a fence post.

A handle 8 is riveted as at 9 to the stabilizing plate, said handle being bent slightly as at 10 and of consderable length so as to afford suflicient leverage in twisting a heavy wire such as barbed wire for instance. The handle 8 is bent upwardly at right angles as at 11 and then forwardly in parallelism with the main body of said handle.

The raised portion of the handle or staple gripper 12 provides a clearance for the passage of a barbed wire 13, the implement being particularly adapted for use in connection with a staple l l as clearly shown by Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing. 1

The staple gripper is provided with a V- shaped notch 15 between which the staple is engaged when twisting and stretching the wire. The side notches 16 are adapted to engage one leg of the staple when the implement is manipulated either upwardly or downwardly as shown by Fig. 3 or to the left or right when the staple is driven into the support vertically.

In actual practice, the staple is first te1n-- porarily driven over the barbed wire. The tool or implement is then brought into engagement with the staple so that the legs of the staple enter the notch of the staple gripper. The implement is manipulated so that upon turning the same, the staple will be rotated and twisted with the wire and when in its taut condition, the staple may be struck with a hammer, driving it into the post for instance and thus retain the wire in position.

Having shown and described my invention what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1s:

1. An implement of the class described comprising a stabilizing plate, a handle secured to said plate, said handle having a staple gripping member whereby a wire may be twisted with a staple when the handle is manipulated.

2. An implement of the class described comprising a stabilizing plate,-a handle secured to said plate and having a notched staple gripping member at one end whereby a wire may be twisted with a staple when the handle is manipulated.

3. An implement of the class described comprising a stabilizing plate, ribs formed with the plate and constituting bearing surfaces therefor, a handle secured to said plate, said handle having a notch at one end for engaging one leg of a staple when the said handle is manipulated.

4. An implement of the class described comprising an annular stabilizing plate, ribs formed with the plate and constituting bearing surfaces therefor, a handle secured to the plate, one end of the handle being bent in spaced relation with the said plate to provide a clearance therebetween, the bent portion of said' handle having a notch for engaginga staple whereby the latter may be retated as the handle is manipulated.

5. An implement of the class descrined comprising an open stabilizing plate having bearing surfaces formed therewith, a handle riveted to the plate, said handle being bent upwardly and outwardly parallelism with the main body portion and overlying the open stabilizing plate, a V-shaped slot in the end of thehandlefor receiving the legs of a staple, said slot having opposed notches for engaging one leg of the staple when the handle is manipulated in either of two directions.

6. An implement of the class described comprising an annular, open stabilizing plate, a plurality of ribs formed with said plate constituting bearing surfaces therefor, an elongated handle riveted to the top face 1 of the plate, said handle being bent upwardly at right angles and in longitudinal parallelism. with the body thereof and overlying the open plate, a V-shaped slot formed in the end of the handle for the passage of the legs of a staple through the plate, notches in the sides of the slot for engaging one leg of the staple when the: handle is manipulated in either of two directions, there being a clearance between the plate and the end of the handle whereby a Wi-re may be stretched with the rotation of the staple.

In testimony whereof I afli'x. my signature.

CHARLES R CO'SSMAN. 

